Turlock senior reunited with family

An elderly Turlock man who had become lost in the Sierras, was reunited with his family Sunday thanks to the watchful eye of a California Highway Patrol officer.While on routine patrol along Interstate 80, east of Colfax, Gold Run CHP veteran Officer Art Gutierrez stopped to check on the welfare of a motorist in a truck parked on the right shoulder of the highway. The driver, Jesse Cone an 81-year-old Turlock resident, seemed to be disoriented and extremely confused. “His expressions and my experience made me realize that Mr. Cone was distraught over his situation,” Gutierrez said. “While engaged in casual conservation, I was able to obtain his trust and identity.” Through further investigation and a California Department of Motor Vehicles record check, it was revealed that Cone was reported missing by his family to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, earlier that morning. At the request of his family, he was transported by ambulance to Sutter Faith Hospital in Auburn for evaluation and to await the arrival of his family. The Gold Run CHP Commander John Arrabit said it was fortunate that Cone was found before an approaching snowstorm arrived.“This incident is a simple reminder to the motoring public, that the CHP is concerned about the citizens that it serves and does more than just write citations,” Arrabit said. “Safety, service and security is the CHP’s primary mission as it patrols the state of California. Through Officer Gutierrez’s efforts, he prevented a possible tragic situation from occurring in the Sierra’s this Sunday and returned this missing elderly gentlemen to his concerned family.”